HUNDREDS OF CLERGYMEN DEMAND FREEDOM OF AYATOLLAH MONTAZERI
PARIS 17 July (IPS) More than five hundred clergymen of different calibre
have called on Iran’s powerful clerical establishment to press for the
unconditional freedom of the dissident Grand Ayatollah Hoseinali Montazeri.
Iran’s and the Muslim Shi’as worldwide highest religious authority, the 79 years-old Grand Ayatollah was placed under house arrest four years ago, after he questioned the legitimacy of the present theocracy and the religious and political credits of Ayatollah Ali Khamenehe'i, the leader of the Islamic Republic.
In an open published Monday, 554 clerics, among them ayatollahs and hojjatoleslams from various religious centres, including the holy cities of Qom, the "cradle" of militant Shi’a and Mash-had, have denounced as both "illegal and illegitimate" Mr. Montazeri’s house arrest and urged the country’s senior clergymen to secure his total freedom.
This is the first time that so many clerics have openly sided with Mr. Montazeri, urging his "immediate and unconditional" freedom, analysts noted, adding that the move would "undoubtedly" place Ayatollah Khamenehe'i in a difficult and delicate situation, as he ordered the house arrest.
The petition comes after more voices have urged the end of the house arrest, including those of some 150 deputies.
Expressing "deep and very serious concern" on the health of the Grand Ayatollah, the signatories said despite appeals, letters and petitions by various personalities as well as millions of his followers that includes some of the present high-ranking officials, both civilians and religious, requesting Mr. Montazeri’s freedom, no actions had been taken.
A close and trusted companion of Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the "father" of the Islamic Revolution of 1979,Mr. Montazeri was demoted as heir to the regime by his Mentor over questioning openly some of Mr. Khomeini’s dreadful decisions, most particularly the mass execution of political prisoners.
Sources said the revolutionary guards have sealed the residence of the old but stubborn man in Qom, preventing all contacts with him.
"Not only Grand Ayatollah Montazeri needs urgent medical care, but he is subject to constant psychological pressures that includes the imprisonment of his sons and other members of the family, the insults and dirty attacks by the conservatives-controlled press and pressure groups", observed one of the signatories of the open letter.
Mr. Montazeri’s youngest son Sa’id was arrested early this year and taken to an unknown prison, after Ayatollah Montazeri’s memoirs were published on an internet site.
In an effort to discredit him by pretending that he is in touch with the Baghdad-based, Iraqi-controlled, financed and backed Mojahedeen Khalq Organisation, the authorities recently linked his site with that of the MKO.
"Even though the Supreme Council of National Security has reportedly decided to end the humiliating measures imposed on the Grand Ayatollah’s movements, yet nothing has changed", said an informed source, confirming that the decision is blocked by Mr. Khamenehe'i.
Despite the limitations he suffers, Ayatollah Montazeri continue his bitter and sharp critics against the way the nation is led by Mr. Khamenehe'i, denounced for his constant interferences with the work of the government and his antagonism with reforms promised by President Mohammad Khatami, also criticised for his "laxism" and lack of firmness".
"Since all efforts undertaken for ending Mr. Montazeri’s house arrest conditions have failed, we have decided to place the clerical establishment in front of its responsibility concerning the fate of the Grand Ayatollah", another signatory said, explaining the reason for the present action. ENDS MONTAZERI LETTER 17701